Popular like a politician but not one. Endearing like a philanthropist, in many ways true. Encompassing like a mother, in every respect. This was evident as she took the final bow out of earth’s stage.

Generally referred to as the hospitality and female fashion guru, Mercy Adata Green, the indefatigable titan, passionate church builder and Knight of Blessed Virgin Mary, and community builder, whose door was open to all and sundry, the entertainment buff, lady of many parts, entrepreneur of repute, at 91 years and not able to carry that self-assigned burden of affection to all, took a glorious bow at life.

As a demonstration of her far-reaching influence, encompassing love and diligent devotion to make the best out of life, every strata of the Bonny society, nay Rivers State converged in Bonny Island to bid her a befitting farewell.

The women were there, the youths were there, the military, the Knights of St. Christopher and their Ladies, Knights of Blessed Virgin Mary, Women’s Guild, and the Clergy of the Anglican Church, the political class, the GAARELS, the known and unknown all were to be counted amongst the eminent entourage that made her glorious transition into eternity.

Knights and Ladies of St. Christopher and Knights of Blessed Virgin Mary

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Eulogizing her in his homily, Dean of the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Very Reverend Richard Hart praised her devotion to God and her diligence in directing her offspring in the way of the Lord, thanking God for His grace that enmeshed her life, enabling her to contribute to the furtherance of His work on earth.

He urged all and sundry to emulate her good graces, tender-heartedness, generosity and affection to all, acknowledging her unique contributions to the growth of the church while she was alive.

He called on her offspring to take solace in God as He was sovereign and sole decider on the length and circumstances of man’s earthly existence, urging them to model her teachings to them while she alive as a way of immortalizing her memory.

After the funeral obsequies at the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny, the mammoth crowd followed her corpse to the Bonny Cemetery were her remains were interred by the clergy of the church led by the Dean of the Cathedral, Very Rev. Richard Hart.  

Speaking to Kristina Reports, on behalf of the GAARELS, a socio-cultural group, to which one her sons, a former lawmaker and Secretary of the Bonny Local Government Council, Maxwell Akwe belongs, former Executive Director of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Larry Pepple thanked God for the life of the late sage.

Pepple went to extol her sterling qualities, noting that she was an inspiration to the then young lads who comprised the GAARELS at inception, observing that her words of counsel were critical to the successes members of the group turned out to become in life.

Dignitaries at the event included a former member of the House of Representatives, Randolph Brown, a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly and former Commissioner for Transport, George Tolofari, a former Commissioner for Finance, Israel Williams, Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, David Irimagha, former Chairmen of Bonny LGA, Edward Pepple and Omuso Abbey, and former Caretaker Committee Chairmen, Bonny LGA, Nelson Irimagha and Isobonye Tobin. 

Others were the Leader of the Bonny Legislative Assembly, Miriam Hart, Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers State, Victoria Allison, Chairman of the Bonny Council of Chiefs (BCC), Chief Dagogo Wilcox, his Vice, Chief Hanniel Jack-Wilson Pepple, Secretary, Chief Arthur Willie-Pepple, Secretary of the King Perekule Palace, Chief Abel Attoni, Chief Christy-Wilcox, members of the Bonny Kingdom Titled Citizens Assembly, amongst others.